17 Apr Gifts in Action: Major Equipment Upgrade Arrives in a Heartbeat
When the need for new equipment arises at our hospital, our generous donor community continues to step in.
Sechelt Hospital Foundation is thrilled to share that just last week, Sechelt | shíshálh Hospital has upgraded to the latest in echocardiography equipment, thanks to the power of philanthropy.
An echocardiogram or “echo,” is a non-invasive ultrasound designed to take pictures of your heart. It allows technicians to detect things like valve issues, heart failure, and congenital heart defects in patients.
After serving its recommended 9 years of service, the existing machine at the hospital was earmarked for replacement in January 2025. Sechelt Hospital Foundation’s board of directors received a funding request in February, and by mid-April a new machine arrived “in a heartbeat” and rolled into service (a record for speed in the medical equipment world!).
This new machine allows technicians to now perform “4D scans” of the heart, right here at home—that is, 3D images of your heart beating in real time. It also allows for “strain echo imaging,” a technique that looks at subtle changes in the shape and size of the heart as it pumps. This new machine allows for earlier diagnoses and improved prognosis for patients with conditions that may not necessarily be detected or visible with regular scans.
With 1,311 echocardiograms performed in 2024, this valuable tool will continue to be used daily at the hospital, and the upgrade is sure to be felt for years to come, thanks to our donors.